Light - Lesson and Stories

Light is used by all people in celebration. It brings a sense of well being and happiness.

Young children like the light, they enjoy playing in sunshine, discovering the colors that exist in light, and often seek for the comfort of light at night.

Pre-Story Discussion

What does our world look like during the night?

What happens to the darkness when the sun rises?

The light changes the darkness into brightness. The sun warms the world after the cold darkness of night. Everything becomes bright in the morning sun. The sunlight starts a new day.

Light changes what it touches. [Turn on a flashlight at this point.] What will happen to the darkness if I put this flashlight into a dark room? The light changes the darkness into brightness.

How does sunlight change a plant?

How does it change the wet world after a rain?

Sunlight can change our feelings too. How do you sometimes feel on a dark, rainy day? How do you feel when the sun comes out?

StoryThe Way to Start a Day, by Byrd Baylor & Peter Parnall (Illustrator)This lovely Caldecott Honor book shows how people around the world start the day and celebrate the sunrise.

The Sun Is My Favorite Star, by Frank AschThere are many stars in the galaxy. But only the sun wakes us in the morning, helps us to grow, plays hide-and-seek behind the clouds, and paints pretty pictures in the evening sky. Frank Asch's gentle text and vivid illustrations celebrate the unique and wondrous qualities of our favorite and most powerful star.

Sun Bread, by Elisa KlevenThe wind is whooshing, the snow is whirling, the rain is streaming, and everyone misses the sun. The baker misses it so much that she mixes some dough, then kneads and shapes it into a warm, round, golden sun bread. When the animals eat it, they not only stop grumbling, they begin to rise! Birds and beasts join in a joyous celebration that wakes up the real sun, who takes part in the feast and beams back down on the world continuing the work the sun bread started.